Mounting structure for a timer



May 11, 1965 J. s. ROBERTS 3,182,520

MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR A TIMER Original Filed June 30. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

James S. Roberts Luzo a Barry Attorneys May 11 1965 J. s. ROBERTS 3,182,520

MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR A TIMER Original Filed June 50. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James S. Roberts l W A mm l 8 w v m om mm 1 5 8 n F 1 3 mm em mm 5 3 Nm 8 K 3 on L020 8 Barry Attorneys United States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-421) This invention relates to a means for controlling a sequence of operations and more particularly relates to that class of electrical switching means known as a stepping switch. The invention has special reference to a stepping switch with mechanical and electrical means for stepwise operation to control a sequence of events. Automatic program controllers of the rotatable control drum type in which the cylinder of the drum is adapted for use as a memory element capable of controlling a plurality of switches are well known. An example of such a controller mechanism is shown in co-pending application Serial No. 845,480, filed October 9, 1959, now Patent 3,101,435, issued to E. S. Welch et al.

This application is a division of Roberts application Serial No. 121,241, filed June 30, 1961.

An object of the invention is a stepping switch construction allowing changing of the memory device whereby an entirely new program is achieved by substituting a new memory for an old one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stepping switch construction in which the memory system can be quickly and easily changed with a minimum of shutdown time. This object is accomplished by mounting the memory device drum cylinder in unique fashion so that it acts as a housing for the drum motor and the gear transmission connected between the motor and drum. This arrangement facilitatesremoval of one drum cylinder and replacement with another, thereby to change programs. In this fashion, a large number of programs can be made up and stored in advance on appropriate drums. The operator can then place the appropriate drum cylinder on the machine, Zero it by locating it at its starting position, and then begin operation.

Other objects, advantages and features will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the associated drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts and the usual convention is employed of showing the electrical apparatus in the position assumed when all of the electricity is cut off from the circuits. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing the drum in operating position (solid lines) and in drum-changing position (dotted lines) as permitted by the mounting means.

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of the drum in the operating position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of the drum when swung out to drum-changing position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through the drum showing the mounting arrangement.

The basic structural features for enabling easy removal of the drum cylinder so that drums can be interchanged to provide different programs is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. A cabinet generically denoted as 6 is provided with a pair of spaced apart bracket supports 34, 35 of which has its respective offset bifurcated end 36, 37. Each of the ends 36, 37 preferably has an internal shape like a U lying on its side to thereby engage a matingly shaped drum positioning block 64 which is secured to the shaft 56 and spaced from the drum by the washers. 75, all as described in detail with respect to FIG. 3. The offset of "Icethe ends is sufficient to receive the blocks 64 and 64a while avoiding interference with the drum (see FIG. 4).

Referring for a moment to FIG. 1, the left hand block 64a may have a partly cylindrical or spherical portion 64b likewise engaging a mating portion on the bracket end 36 in order that the drum maybe swung about its pivot shaft 38 to move it to a position suitable for removing and/or replacing the drum cylinder. The pivot pin 38 is preferably arranged vertically (FIGS. 2 and 3) with its central longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of the sperical (or at least partially cylindrical) surface 64b. The pivot pin 38 may comprise any suitable pivoting means and may be secured to one of the ends 36 or the block 64a and revolvably connected to the other of the block or end whereby pivotal rotation as indicated by FIGS. 1 and 2 may be achieved.

A securing means 39 which may comprise a set screw, a spring biased detent, a drift pin or the like is provided to the right hand of the bracket ends 37 in order to secure the corresponding end of the shaft and the block 64 in place. The member 39 removably or detachably engages the block 64, which engagement is broken when the drum is moved to the position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows in cross section the arrangement of the drum motor 20, the dead centering means 24, and the gear train 22. The whole is arranged so that the drum cylinder 2 may be easily removed and so that the motor and gear train which are encased within the drum remain on the shaft after the drum cylinder is removed.

The drum cylinder 2 is secured by removable means such as a plurality of screws 50 to a pair of hubs 52, 54 which are spaced apart along a non-revolvable shaft 56. The shaft 56 has a flatted portion 58 to which the motor 20 is secured by any suitable means such as screws, brackets, or the like. The shaft has a hollow portion 60 preferably disposed at the inboard end adjacent the hinge means for swinging the drum out of the bracket to change drums and thereby install a new program. Wires for the motor 20 and various switch means associated with the dead centering means 24 are led into the inside portion of the drum through the hollow portion 60.

The hub 54 is revolvably mounted on the shaft 56 by any suitable bearing preferably a frictionless bearing such as a ball bearing, indicated generically as 62. Hub 54 is maintained in its position on the shaft by a pair of spaced apart rings 63, 64 which are secured to the shaft by set screws 65 and 66.

The hub 52 is mounted ina partly similar fashion, but uses the gear train 22 and supports thereof in lieu of a ring such as 63 to guard against axial displacement toward the other hub.

The gear train is supported from the shaft by support means generically denoted as which is secured to the shaft and so constructed as to allow various portions of the gear train to revolve relative both to the support means and the shaft 56. The support means (and the gear train, for that matter) is secured to the shaft by a pair of spaced apart gear train supporting hubs 71, 72 which are respectively secured to the shaft by set screws 73, 74. A plurality of washers 75 are disposed between the support hubs and adjacent revolving members, one of such washers being used to space the drum hub 52 from the support 71.

An idler support plate 77 is secured to the hub 71 by any suitable means such as screws, welding or may be formed integrally therewith. A dead centering switch support plate 78 is supported in spaced apart relation to the idler plate by means of a plurality of tubular spacers 79, the whole being secured together by a corresponding plurality of nuts and bolts 80.

A motor support plate 82 is secured to the hub 72, or

e) may be fashioned integrally therewith. The motor may be supported from this plate if desired.

When it is desired to remove a drum cylinder from the timer and replace it with a drum cylinder having a different program, block 64 is released from receiving means 39 and the drum is swung outward on pivot shaft 38. Screws 50 are removed and the drum cylinder is moved axially until it is free of the hubs. A new drum cylinder is then immediately slipped onto the hubs and secured thereto by screws 56.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, it should be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A driven drum-type stepping control mechanism, comprising in combination,

spaced shaft support means adapted to receive the ends of said shaft,

a shaft,

means pivotally connecting one end of said shaft to one of said support means,

means releasably securing the other end of said shaft to the other of said support means, and

a drum coaxially mounted for rotation about the shaft which extends therethrough,

said drum comprising a pair of hubs rotatably mounted on said shaft between said support means and, a hollow cylinder releasably secured to said hubs, whereby said cylinder can be placed on and removed from the shaft when the shaft is pivoted outward from said other of said shaft support means.

2. A driven drum-type stepping control mechanism comprising, in combination,

a shaft,

mounting means rigidly secured to each end of said shaft,

spaced shaft supports adapted to receive said mounting means secured to said shaft,

means pivotally connecting one of said mounting means to one of said shaft supports,

means releasably securing the other of said mounting means to the other of said shaft supports, and

a drum coaxially mounted for rotation about said shaft extending therethrough,

said drum comprising a pair of hubs rotatably mounted on said shaft between said mounting means, and a hollow cylinder releasably secured to said hubs, whereby said cylinder can be placed on and removed from the shaft when the shaft is pivoted outward from said shaft supports.

3. A driven drum-type stepping control mechanism comprising, in combination,

a shaft,

, spaced shaft supports adapted to receive the ends of said shaft,

means for securing asid shaft against rotation relative to said supports, a drum coaxially mounted for rotation about said shaft extending therethrough, said drum comprising a hollow cylinder adapted for use as a memory element capable of controlling a plurality of switches, and a pair of hubs removably securing the ends of said cylinder, said hubs being revolvably supported on a pair of spaced bearing means disposed on said shaft between said shaft supports, driving means for rotating said drum mounted on said shaft Within said drum, and hinge means connecting one end of said shaft to one of said supports for swinging movement of said shaft away from the other of said supports, whereby the cylinder can be placed on and removed from the shaft and the associated hubs by swinging one end of the shaft out of the shaft support and about said hinge and moving said cylinder axially along the shaft. 4. A driven drum-type stepping control mechanism comprising, in combination,

support means for a shaft, a shaft having one end pivotally mounted in said support means and the other end releasably mounted in said support means,

said shaft being secured against rotation relative to said support means, bearing means mounted for rotary motion on said shaft between said support means, a drum mounted on said bearing means for rotation about said shaft extending therethrough,

said drum comprising a hollow cylinder adapted for use as a memory element capable of controlling a plurality of switches, and, a pair of hubs removably securing the ends of said cylinder, whereby the cylinder can be placed on and removed from the shaft and the associated hubs by swinging one end of the shaft about its pivotal mounting and moving said cylinder axially along the shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,248 11/43 Harvey 74-568 2,344,646 3/44 Shrader 274-17 X 2,344,647 3/44 Shrader 74-4215 2,439,520 4/48 Miller 74-4215 2,517,809 8/50 Tarzian 242-552 2,635,882 4/53 Murray 274-17 X 2,736,209 2/56 Christian 74-421.5

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

3. A DRIVEN DRUM-TYPE STEPPING CONTROL MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SHAFT, SPACED SHAFT SUPPORTS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF SAID SHAFT, MEANS FOR SECURING ASID SHAFT AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORTS, A DRUM COAXIALLY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, 